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Start achieving those new business goals in 2016 with our free series for professionals, entrepreneurs, makers and everyone in between. Financial management is important to time management. Whether you’re one, or a small team, administrative paperwork is consuming and distracts your focus on reaching the next step in development.

Hey Baby Boutique owner, Karyn Pope, will be presenting the second session in the CAM: Growing Micro-Entrepreneurs project that will focus on Hobby to Home Businesses. Her day job as an accountant provides insight on low-cost ways and best practices to effectively manage home production and retail.

Goods produced at home are considered part of the cottage industry. Between DIY, maker-movements, #shopsmall campaigns, and re surging interest in local development to weather the corporate influx of opportunities, more individuals consider alternative ways to build security in time, finances, and lifestyle. Most look to begin new careers by working at home.

Retail of goods and specialized services through traditional online stores, the recently disruptive share economy service groups, social media inventions for branding advantages that skip the middle man costs in marketing and sales, and crowd-funding platforms have provided opportunities for start-ups to quickly build their businesses.

These workshops will help navigate new initiatives, whether traditional or innovative, and provide a layout of processes that will benefit where the road of business takes you in this modern age.

1. What is it like to go from “hobby to home business” as a one woman, production based, soft goods operation?

KP: It definitely wasn’t an overnight thing for me. It took a few years for me to get into a groove to find the right products and a cohesive [product] line that worked well together that I could actually make by myself. It also took a lot of organization and planning and research. I started small, doing craft shows at fire halls and high schools, and then slowly started applying for juried events, built a following, and a brand, that I could be proud of.

2. Who will benefit from these classes?

KP: The new hobby-to-home businesses portions are for anyone looking to take that next step from making things for just family and friends and church basements to selling in a retail shop or an expo. For the Square session-any business owner, whether a hair salon, restaurant or deli, jeweler, clothing shop. Tax session is for any business that is not a HOBBY, meaning you intend to make a profit, but the Google Docs portion is relevant for for-profit, non profit, or even basic home management.

3. Were there any blogs or resources that were inspiring for you within the hobby-to-home business theme?

KP: Pinterest was the most helpful thing for me. I learned so much about display and selling techniques, but mostly that bad days happen to everyone and that you can let it get you down or you can let it make you try 100 times harder to become successful. Other great resources are the SBA (Small Business Admin) and a book calledThe Science of Shopping by – Malcolm Gladwell

4. How has this experience helped to grow your small business?

KP: Just by talking about something that you’re passionate about, and talking to other people who have the same desire as you, to make their business great and successful, and to sit around and share ideas: these are some of the best things you can do to help incubate your business. Everyone thinks and sees things differently and having a few different vantage points and not pigeonholing yourself into one set way is amazing for making your business grow and be successful.